BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In response to the intense media interest surrounding the consumer
firework devices purchased in Seabrook, NH by Tamerlan Tsarnaev, that
have been implicated as a possible source of explosive material used in
the tragic Boston bombings, the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA)
issues the following information to help the general public better
understand its products and how they are regulated as well as provide
some facts to clarify a number of misstatements made by the media in
covering this investigation.

“The fireworks industry is heavily regulated by multiple U.S. federal
regulatory agencies in addition to state and local regulations with
regard to manufacture, transportation, storage, sales and use. The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) arethe primary federal agencies with
oversight of consumer fireworks such as the reloadable fireworks devices
purchased by the older Tsarnaev brother. All consumer fireworks are
subject to strict pyrotechnic composition limitations as well as
construction requirements,” said Julie L. Heckman, Executive Director of
the APA.

The fireworks devices allegedly found during the investigation were two
reloadable aerial shell kits, each containing 24 small aerial shells.
These types of devices contain limited quantities of explosive or
combustible chemical composition designed to deflagrate (burn) rather
than detonate like dynamite, TNT or military explosives. The specific
firework devices that have been linked to Tsarnaev contain a maximum of
60 grams, or roughly 2 ounces, of pyrotechnic composition per aerial
shell. Additionally, each aerial shell is limited to no more than 130
milligrams (or 0.005 oz.) of explosive composition, less than three
aspirin tablets, which produce a firecracker-like aerial effect inside
the shell. Consumer fireworks are thermally stable and do not present a
mass explosion hazard as manufactured and transported. Again, consumer
fireworks are designed to burn or deflagrate, rather than function by
explosion.

Could these consumer fireworks devices be used to produce a pipe bomb or
pressure cooker bomb like the bombs involved at the Boston marathon?
Perhaps; however, it would take a significant volume of these small
aerial shells to extract the volume of chemicals necessary to create a
significant blast and it would be extremely time consuming and dangerous
to disassemble the shells to collect the minute amount of pyrotechnic
composition in each shell.

Contrary to media reports, consumer fireworks have rarely been used in
such destructive activities, especially since there is a vast array of
alternate energetic materials widely available via the Internet, hobby
stores, home improvement centers, etc., which are far easier to obtain,
considerably less expensive to purchase, and significantly less
time-consuming to deconstruct and obtain material from if someone wanted
to cause destruction or harm. In fact, according to data routinely
distributed by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (ATF), consumer fireworks are rarely used for destructive
activities, with the exception of the failed Times Square bombing
incident in 2010.

Heckman noted that, at present, we know that two reloadable consumer
fireworks aerial shell kits were purchased by the older Tsarnaev
brother. The total amount of pyrotechnic composition in two such
unopened kits would be considerably less than the amount of explosive
material believed to have been used in Boston. In addition, there has
been no evidence or federal agency report citing that the fireworks were
actually used but rather, were simply found, and there was no
observation of colors and other visual effects observed when the blasts
occurred which would typically be associated with fireworks. “We believe
it is virtually impossible to create the level ofdestruction and
devastation caused in Boston with legitimate consumer fireworks and
suspect that the investigation will ultimately point toward other
materials being responsible for the creation of the deadly pressure
cooker bombs,” said Heckman.

The APA and members of the professional fireworks industry pledge our
on-going support and assistance to the investigation. Our thoughts and
prayers are with all Bostonians and especially the families and victims
who suffered from this senseless act of terrorism.

About the American Pyrotechnics Association

The APA is the leading trade association of the pyrotechnics industry.
The association supports and promotes safety standards for all aspects
of pyrotechnics. Its diverse membership includes regulated and licensed
manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, importers and
suppliers of pyrotechnics, and professional public display companies.
Additional information on the pyrotechnics industry can be found on
APA’s website www.americanpyro.com.